Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., son of the legendary fighter Julio César Chávez, has been deported to Mexico to face charges related to alleged cartel ties. His deportation on August 19, 2025, followed his arrest in the United States in early July for overstaying his visa and providing false information on a green card application. Upon arrival in Mexico, Chávez Jr. was admitted to a prison outside Hermosillo, Sonora, as authorities had an active warrant for his arrest since 2023.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the deportation, stating, "I understand he was deported. I don't know if it was yesterday or this morning, but we were informed that he was arriving in Mexico." Sheinbaum had previously expressed her hope that the boxer would be deported to face his charges in Mexico. The warrant against the 39-year-old Chávez Jr. in Mexico is for alleged arms and drug trafficking and purported connections to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.

A Mexican judge in Hermosillo ruled on August 24, 2025, that Chávez Jr. will go on trial for these accusations. However, he was granted permission to await trial outside of detention, with the crucial condition that he is prohibited from leaving Mexico. The court also set a three-month period for further investigation into the case. His lawyer, Ruben Fernando Benítez Alvarez, described the claims against his client as "speculation" and "urban legends."

The investigation into Chávez Jr. by Mexico's Attorney General, Alejandro Gertz Manero, began in 2019. This probe is part of a broader inquiry launched by Mexican prosecutors against the Sinaloa Cartel for organized crime, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and drug trafficking, stemming from a complaint filed by U.S. authorities. This extensive investigation has also implicated 13 other individuals, including Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of convicted drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman, who was arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the United States eight months later.

Chávez Jr.'s life and career have been marred by numerous scandals and personal struggles, often under the shadow of his famous father, who himself mixed social circles with dealers and claimed friendship with drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes. The younger Chávez has battled addiction for a significant part of his boxing career, leading to failed drug tests, suspensions, and criticism for his inconsistent dedication. He held the WBC middleweight title in 2011, defending it three times, and faced notable fighters like Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both.

His legal troubles extend beyond the current cartel allegations. In 2012, Chávez Jr. was convicted of drunken driving in Los Angeles, serving a 13-day jail sentence. More recently, in January 2024, he was arrested on gun charges for allegedly possessing two AR-style ghost rifles. He was subsequently released on a $50,000 bond, on the condition that he attend a residential drug treatment facility, with that case still pending.

The high-profile nature of Chávez Jr.'s case has drawn significant attention, particularly as the Trump administration increases pressure on Mexico to combat organized crime, including through visa cancellations for prominent Mexican figures and intensified deportations. Despite his release from detention, Julio César Chávez Jr. remains at the center of a complex legal battle, facing serious accusations that link him to major criminal organizations in Mexico.